The Spanish National Research Council – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) – presented the Medal for Scientific Excellence on the first day of its management meeting in Madrid. Ignacio Cirac, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, is widely recognised as a leading figure in theoretical quantum optics, quantum information and degenerate quantum gases. He receives the honour in recognition of the “exceptional significance and international impact of his contributions”. more

The British analytics company Clarivate has once again recognized MPQ Director Immanuel Bloch as one of the world’s most highly cited researchers. Only scientists whose publications rank among the top one percent of citations in their field and year of publication are included on the Clarivate list. Immanuel Bloch has held this distinction continuously since 2014 and was additionally named a Clarivate Citation Laureate in 2022 for his “ground-breaking research on quantum many-body systems using ultracold atomic and molecular gases.” more

The Prix de l’Académie, the highest honour of the Royal Academy of Belgium, recognises outstanding scientific achievements. MPQ Director Ignacio Cirac and Peter Zoller receive the award for their pioneering contributions to quantum physics. Their theoretical work has deepened our understanding of the quantum world and driven experimental advances in computing, simulation, and quantum technologies. more

For its mission to bring a “Made in Germany” quantum computer based on neutral atoms into industrial application, MPQ spin-off planqc was awarded the prestigious German Founder Award in the Startup category on September 9, 2025. Founded in 2022 out of Immanuel Bloch’s Quantum Many-Body Systems division, the company’s unique approach enables highly energy-efficient, scalable, and stable systems, rooted in decades of pioneering research at MPQ. more

Rahul Trivedi, tenured researcher in the Theory Division at MPQ, has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant of €1.5 million. His project ToNQS aims to develop new theoretical foundations to assess the reliability of quantum simulators operating under realistic noisy conditions. The research paves the way to exploring complex many-body phenomena – long before fully fault-tolerant quantum computers become a reality. more

Named after the ancient Chinese philosopher, the Micius Quantum Prize celebrates outstanding contributions to quantum science. This year, the award goes to Immanuel Bloch, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and Professor at LMU Munich, alongside Tilman Esslinger (ETH Zurich) and Markus Greiner (Harvard University). The official award ceremony will take place in September at the International Conference on Emerging Quantum Technology in Hefei, China. more

Following the nomination of Nobel Laureate and attosecond physics founder Ferenc Krausz, Sergio Revuelta has been awarded the Nobel Laureate Fellowship of the Max Planck Society. The award recognizes outstanding postdoctoral researchers for their exceptional scientific achievements. Sergio Revuelta explores how infrared light can reveal the molecular secrets hidden in our blood, pushing current detection limits.  more